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Senator STAFFORD. Well, the Chair wants to thank you all very much, gentlemen, for your patience; we appreciate the sacrifice you have made, and we apologize for the demands of time that always seem to catch up with us here.

We really are going to study your detailed statements carefully in drafting the legislation, and for the whole subcommittee, our thanks.

Thank you very much.

The next panel will consist this morning of Mr. Gilbert D. Johnson, manager of training and education, Information Technology Group, Electronic Data Systems, Dallas, Tex., and also Dr. William Lucas, the assistant superintendant, Los Angeles School Distirct, Los Angeles, Calif., who will be an extra added attraction today. We understand, Doctor, there was apparently some mixup in the schedule-when we asked you to be here or in the airlines, we do not know which; but anyway we are delighted you are here this morning.

We still have the old bugaboo of time, gentlemen, because if we run an awful lot longer, we are going to become illegal by Senate rules. So, Mr. Johnson, we would be most happy to hear from you. STATEMENTS OF GILBERT D. JOHNSON, MANAGER, EDUCATION AND TRAINING, INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY GROUP, ELECTRONIC DATA SYSTEMS, ACCOMPANIED BY MILTON RUSSELL, GENERAL COUNSEL, ASSOCIATION OF DATA PROCESSING SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS; AND WILLIAM LUCAS, ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT, LOS ANGELES UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT Mr. JOHNSON. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I would like to introduce Mr. Milton Russell, who is the general counsel for ADPSO under whose sponsorship we are appearing here today.

Senator STAFFORD. We are very glad he is here.

Mr. JOHNSON. I am going to depart from my notes, if I may. I understand that they will be submitted for the record.

Senator STAFFORD. Sure.

Mr. JOHNSON. As you know, we are here representing industry, in particular the data processing industry. We do not consider ourselves to be educators, nor legislators, but we do appreciate the opportunity to share with you our concerns regarding present educational standards as they apply to math, science, and computer sci

ence.

Within our industry we tend to do a great deal of internal training. In my firm, EDS, we have been conducting extensive internal training programs since 1968. Because we have experienced problems with the academic qualifications of people coming into our entry-level programs, we are deeply concerned with the issues currently before this subcommittee. As an example of the basis for our concern, we currently have approximately 140 entry-level technical positions open at our local facilities. We also have approximate 1,500 applicants to fill those positions; however, because of academic qualifications, only 75 of those applicants are qualified.

By in large, the principal academic failings of unqualified applicants are the lack of a basic sounding in mathematics and science, as well as a general weakness in computer literacy. The impor

tance of these subjects at all levels of education cannot be overemphasized. In a great many of the junior high and high schools, computers are becoming more and more prevalent. Unfortunately, our experience indicates that many of the teachers who use this equipment have received very little training other than simple operating instructions. Computer literacy throughout academia appears to be a problem.

As indicated in my written testimony, we feel that there are three basic factors that should be considered in relation to the problems you are considering. The first is that we are in the age of the computer. Almost everything in our society is influenced by computers and computer technology. This situation reinforces the need for computer literacy.

Second, academia must remain abreast of computer science. In past eras, most of the new technology has come out of academia. In the field of computer science, that new technology is now being driven by industry, and we recommend a closer association between industry and academia to close that technology loop.

And third, the computer industry needs to realize its responsibility to play an active part in closing the technology loop.

In our written testimony, we have provided seven recommenations. We do not feel that they are subject to direct legislation, but we do feel that they might be encouraged by legislative action. [The prepared statement of Mr. Johnson follows:]

STATEMENT

OF

GILBERT D. JOHNSON

ELECTRONIC DATA SYSTEMS, INC.

MR. CHAIRMAN AND MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE:

MY NAME IS GILBERT D. JOHNSON, I AM THE MANAGER OF EDUCATION AND TRAINING FOR ELECTRONIC DATA SYSTEMS INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY GROUP.

(EDS)

I WANT TO THANK THE COMMITTEE FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO APPEAR HERE TODAY AND EXPRESS THE VIEWS OF MY COMPANY REGARDING THE PREPAREDNESS OF STUDENTS TO ENTER CAREERS IN THE TECHNICAL FIELD OF DATA PROCESSING. WHILE MY PRESENCE TODAY IS UNDER THE SPONSORSHIP OF THE ASSOCIATION OF DATA PROCESSING SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS (ADAPSO), OF WHICH EDS IS AN ACTIVE MEMBER, THE VIEWS I WILL PRESENT ARE SOLELY THOSE OF MY COMPANY AND ARE NOT NECESSARILY THOSE OF ADAPSO. MY PURPOSE TODAY IS NOT TO COMMENT DIRECTLY ON THE LEGISLATION WHICH YOU ARE CONSIDERING BUT TO SHARE WITH YOU THE NATURE AND MAGNITUDE OF THE PROBLEMS EXPERIENCED BY EDS, AS PART OF THE DATA PROCESSING INDUSTRY, IN OBTAINING QUALIFIED ENTRY-LEVEL TECHNICIANS.

EDS IS THE THIRD LARGEST FIRM IN THE DATA PROCESSING SERVICES INDUSTRY AS RANKED BY THE PERIODICAL DATAMATION. OUR PRINCIPAL BUSINESS IS TO INTERFACE BETWEEN OUR CLIENTS AND THE COMPUTER. ESSENTIALLY WE INCORPORATE THE SKILLS OF BUSINESS MANAGEMENT WITH TECHNOLOGY OF DATA PROCESSING TO SOLVE BUSINESS AND MANAGERIAL PROBLEMS. MY ROLE AS THE MANAGER OF EDUCATION AND TRAINING FOR OUR GROUP IS TO DEVELOP,

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PROVIDE, AND MANAGE THE MANAGERIAL, BUSINESS SKILLS, AND
TECHNICAL TRAINING NECESSARY FOR OUR EMPLOYEES TO CARRY
OUT THE DAY-TO-DAY BUSINESS IN AN EFFICIENT AND COST-
EFFECTIVE MANNER.

EARLY IN ITS 20-YEAR HISTORY, EDS REALIZED THAT ACADEMIA
SIMPLY DOES NOT, OR CANNOT, PRODUCE BUSINESS ORIENTED TECH-
NICIANS, AT LEAST IN THE NUMBER WE REQUIRE, IN 1968, EDS
ESTABLISHED ITS OWN INTERNAL TRAINING ARM WHICH TODAY PROVIDES
TRAINING FOR MANAGERS, COMPUTER OPERATORS, AND SYSTEMS
ENGINEERS. WHILE ALL OF THESE TRAINING PROGRAMS ARE IMPORTANT
TO US, PERHAPS THE SYSTEMS ENGINEERING DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM
IS THE MOST CRITICAL AND MOST ACCURATELY PORTRAYS THE DIF-
FICULTIES WE EXPERIENCE DUE TO THE PAUCITY OF WELL PREPARED
STUDENTS ENTERING OUR JOB FORCE. TO APPRECIATE THE IMPORTANCE
OF THIS PROGRAM TO EDS, YOU MUST UNDERSTAND THAT THERE ARE
SIMPLY NOT ENOUGH PROGRAMMERS AND SYSTEM ANALYSTS AVAILABLE-
IN THE JOB MARKET TO MEET THE NEEDS OF OUR INDUSTRY. AS A
RESULT, IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT WE DEVELOP THEM OURSELVES.
WE DO THIS THROUGH OUR SYSTEMS ENGINEERING DEVELOPEMENT
PROGRAM.

THE PURPOSE OF THE SYSTEMS ENGINEERING DEVELOPMENT (SED) PROGRAM IS TO PROVIDE QUALIFIED SYSTEMS ENGINEERS (SE) FOR EDS. THIS IS AN ENTRY-LEVEL PROGRAM WHICH TAKES OUTSTANDING INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE DEMONSTRATED THE QUALITIES

OF LEADERSHIP, AGGRESSIVENESS, SELF-CONFIDENCE, AND COM-
PETITIVENESS AND DEVELOPS THEM INTO GOOD BUSINESSMEN OR

OR WOMEN WHO ARE ALSO HIGHLY SKILLED IN DATA PROCESSING
PARTICIPANTS IN THIS PROGRAM ARE COMMONLY

TECHNIQUES.

REFERRED TO AS "SEDS."

A NEW SED WILL GO THROUGH THREE PHASES IN THE COURSE OF THIS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM:

PHASE I: IN PHASE I, THE SED IS ASSIGNED TO AN EDS ACCOUNT WORKING WITH QUALIFIED SES AND THE CUSTOMER'S MANAGEMENT AND CLERICAL STAFF, THE GOAL OF THIS PHASE IS TO FAMILIARIZE THE SED WITH THE BUSINESS ASPECTS OF DATA PROCESSING. THE PHASE I SED WILL HAVE RECEIVED NO PRIOR TECHNICAL TRAINING IN EDS BUT THROUGH ON-THE-JOB TRAINING WILL LEARN THE CUSTOMER'S BUSINESS AND EDS' SYSTEM WELL ENOUGH TO HELP THE CUSTOMER TRAIN HIS OWN PERSONNEL IN THE USE OF THE SYSTEM. THE SED MUST STRIVE TO UNDERSTAND THE CUSTOMER'S PROBLEMS WELL ENOUGH TO EXPLAIN THEM TO AND WORK WITH EXPERIENCED SES TO RESOLVE THEM. DEPENDING UPON THE INDIVIDUAL, PHASE I MAY LAST FROM SIX MONTHS TO ONE YEAR. PHASE II: DURING PHASE II, THE SED ATTENDS SIX WEEKS

OF INTENSIVE FORMAL TRAINING IN COMPUTER PROGRAMMING AND

SYSTEMS DESIGN. THIS TRAINING IS EXTREMELY DEMANDING AND
REQUIRES AN AVERAGE OF TEN TO TWELVE HOURS PARTICIPATION
PER DAY, SIX DAYS A WEEK, FOR THE ENTIRE PERIOD.

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